Skin conditions (dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis) decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's current dermatologic disability, including pseudofolliculitis and cysts of the right forearm, chest, stomach, right leg, and side, is not related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicides. As such, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis is also denied due to the lack of evidence showing constant exudation or marked disfigurement.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain her VA treatment records and for a VA medical examination to determine the severity of her service-connected exercise induced asthma and acne disabilities.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for psoriasis from August 30, 2002. The maximum schedular disability rating available under the new criteria is assigned.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for higher ratings for left knee traumatic arthritis and seborrheic dermatitis due to incomplete development of evidence, including a need for VA medical examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, stomach cancer, brain abscess, chloracne, PTSD, and chondromalacia of the left patella. The appeal is considered 'unknown' in terms of service connection.

The veteran did not file a claim for service connection for lung cancer prior to his death, and the appellant is not eligible for DIC benefits.,There was no pending claim for an increased evaluation of tinea versicolor at the time of the veteran's death.

The appellant's service-connected postoperative residuals of anal fistula and pseudofolliculitis barbae render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, as his other disabilities (including diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary artery disease, gout, dyslipidemia, severe osteoarthritis status post bilateral knee replacements, right shoulder arthroplasty, chronic low back pain, and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine) make him unemployable.

The veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a low back disorder was denied. His claim for an increased rating for generalized anxiety disorder was granted with a 50% rating effective from June 20, 2005. The veteran's claim for an increased rating for acne of the face, back, and shoulders was denied.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected photodermatitis, effective from August 30, 2002.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least evenly divided and supports the claim for service connection for a recurrent skin rash that includes involvement of the legs and feet due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a skin disability, including folliculitis, that is due to disease or injury incurred in service. The currently demonstrated folliculitis was not shown to be related to Agent Orange exposure or any other event or incident of the veteran's period of active duty.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he is not unemployable as a result of these conditions and that he failed to comply with the Board's remand instructions.

The Board found that the veteran's psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis were not incurred or aggravated by active duty service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's folliculitis was denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent from August 19, 1997 to August 29, 2002 and a rating of 60 percent effective August 30, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, PTSD, skin condition (stasis dermatitis), and bilateral cataracts. The reasons were that there was no verified in-service stressor for PTSD, no evidence of exposure to herbicide agents or ionizing radiation, and no diagnosed conditions related to these exposures.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hallux valgus deformity (bunions) with osteoarthropathy of the 1st metatarsophalangeal joints and an initial evaluation greater than 10 percent for pseudofolliculitis barbae. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's dyshydrotic eczema, which affects her hands and left shoulder. The condition requires intermittent systemic therapy (Valtrex) for less than six weeks in the past year.

The veteran's dyshidrotic dermatitis of the right hand does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection is granted for PTSD based on confirmed in-service stressors.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus the claim for a TDIU rating is denied.